ONVOL 1ST DIVISION LEAGUE

QALA OBTAIN DRAMATIC POINT IN AN EXCITING MATCH

K Vella, P Buttigieg, J Meilaq, M Secco (K Mifsud), A Simoncic, C Camilleri (S Attard), C Hili, J Buttigieg, E Nkwankwo, A Portelli, J Portelli.

      Major contender for the title Nadur Youngsters were surprisingly held to a draw by Qala St Joseph kin an exciting match that produced four spectacular goals.  Nadur had territorial superiority throughout the ninety minutes and created several scoring opportunities but failed to convert them in goals.  Nadur were punished for the missed chances.  In the first period they had to make an extra effort when they found themselves one goal behind and turned the result in their favor.  After the break they failed to find the net and ended up suffering Qala’s equalizer in the first minute of stoppage time.  The Maroons seemed determined to continue in their quest to get away from the relegation zone in the last phase of the campaign.  They tried hard to resist Nadur’s pressure and managed to save the result in stoppage time.  Nadur were without the service of regular goalkeeper Jonathan Xuereb due to suspension.

          Play was quite balanced in the first part of the match.  Although both Nadur and Qala needed points for different ambitions play was mainly at the midfield during the first phase.  Both sides were very prudent not to give away mistakes in the crucial early stages of the match.  The first serious attempt at goal arrived in the 14^th minute through a long ranged free kick b y Mario Mifsud that was turned in corner with difficulty by goalie Kevin Vella.  Nadur replied four minutes later with a shot by Alex Simoncic following a pass by Chris Camilleri that ended on the side of the net.  Qala managed to open the score in the 19^th minute with a spectacular strike from long distance by Mario Mifsud after receiving from Manuel Cordina, that surprised Nadur’s defence including goalie Kevin Vella.

          The Youngsters recovered from the shock after a short span. They also managed to level the score in the 25^th minute through an excellent header by Alex Simoncic following a cross from the right by Anthony Portelli.  The Saints were confused and Nadur took immediate advantage and turned the result in their favour less than two minutes later.  Alex Simoncic won a ball at Qala’s defence and passed to Joseph Portelli who netted with a low shot from the edge of the area.  Six minutes later Qala’s goalie Inim Aktpan kept his side in contention with a fine save following a lob by Chris Camilleri and in a separate occasion the same goalkeeper saved with difficulty an angled shot by Joseph Portelli.  Qala tried to produce a reaction, although very often they suffered dangerous fast breaks by Nadur’s strikers, but the closest they went to scoring was through a shot by Charlie Attard that missed the target and an attempt by Dione Lautier that was saved by goalie Kevin Vella.  In the 44^th minute Aktpan was again called to make a difficult save to turn in corner a shot by Chris Camilleri following a solo action.

          Seconds after the break, Qala’s goalie Aktpan was called to make a difficult save following a free kick by Alex Simoncic.  The Saints replied immediately and in the 47^th minute it was Nadur’s goalie Kevin Vella who turned in corner with difficulty a shot by Manuel Cordina following a move on the left flank by Peter Said.  Nadur however were more dangerous than their opponents.  In the 52^nd minute Aktpan was again called to save a low shot by Chris Camilleri and two minutes later a header by Marcos Secco from a corner by Alex Simoncic was cleared off the line by Denis Abela.  From the resultant clearance, a lob by Anthony Portelli was saved by Aktpan.  One minute later a header by Chris Camilleri from a dubious offside position hit the crossbar. 

Nadur went again close to scoring in the 63^rd minute through an attempt by Joseph Portelli following a free kick by Alex Simoncic that was well saved by Aktpan.  Four minutes later Chris Camilleri concluded on the side of the net following a personal action.  Nadur were almost punished for the missed chances in the 68^th minute when a header by Mark Bonello from a corner action was cleared off the line by Peter Buttigieg.  Nadur reduced their pressure in the last phase of the match and seemed in a position to control their one goal lead.  However, in the 90^th minute Nadur’s central defender Marcos Secco had to be substituted due to an injury and in the following action the defence was exposed and Qala took advantage and scored the dramatic equaliser. It was Manuel Cordina who crossed from the right and Dione Lautier followed the action and headed the ball in the corner of the net.      Referee: Clayton Pisani

MATCH PHOTO GALLERY